Apparatus for fastening items on a mantle or shelf

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for securing decorative items such as figurines, lights, garland and Christmas stockings on top of or hanging over the front edge of a shelf or mantel. The apparatus has a retainer that is secured to the wall or the rear of a mantel or shelf, a fastener that is fixed to the decorative item, and an adjustable length tether connecting the two. The retainer is preferably a flat piece that inserts between the rear edge of the shelf or mantel but may be a U shaped clip mounted on the back edge of a shelf. The apparatus prevents the decorative items from being accidentally knocked off or pulled off the shelf or mantel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to fastening devices and moreparticularly to a fastening device for preventing decorative items,including Christmas stocking holders from falling of a mantle or shelf.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people place decorative holder accessories on the edge of fireplacemantels. These decorative accessories support Christmas stockings,Christmas lights, figurines and other decorative items such as garlandor strings of mistletoe. Typically, the holder accessory takes the formof a weighted figurine with an attached hanger that extends over thefront edge of the mantel. The figurine is weighted heavily to keep notonly itself in place, but also to keep it from slipping off the mantledespite the weight of decorations hanging from it hanger. This weightedfigurine technique applies well to all mantle surface types, includingharder surfaces such as marble or granite. However, weighted figurineshave limited weight holding capability. The weighted figurines can beaccidentally pulled off a mantel by a child and damage the figurine orflooring beneath the mantle. More importantly, the falling weightedfigurine can cause personal injury. This is particularly the case when acurious small child may pull at a stocking, dislodging the figurine anddirecting the falling object toward the child's face or head. With atypical mantle height a weighted figurine could be traveling between 6and 10 mph when it strikes a small child. The weighted figurine cancause serious personal injury to the child.

Most of the currently available Christmas stocking holders are designedfor a single purpose, hanging Christmas stockings. Stringing lights,garland or other decorations between stocking holders is not a realisticoption for two reasons. First, the hooks are often too small or tooawkward to use for anything other than hanging stockings. In addition,the vast majority of these products cannot support the weight of lightsor garland. Even the heaviest products tend to slide out of place whenitems are strung from adjacent stocking holders since they frequentlyslide on the mantel surface.

One prior art Christmas stocking holder is taught in U.S. Pat. No.5,642,819 issued Jul. 1, 1997 to Ernesto Ronia. The stocking holdertaught in this patent consists of a plurality of C type clamps thatclamp onto the front edge of a mantel or shelf. The clamps are spacedfrom each other and have a rod passing underneath, and being supportedby, the C clamps. Affixed permanently to the top of each of the C clampsis a candle holder. Christmas stockings or other decorations aresuspended from the rod that passes underneath and is supported by the Cclamps.

Another prior art means for supporting articles from a mantel, shelf orother planar surface is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,827 issued Apr.30, 2002 to Jeffrey Kacines. This means for supporting articles is a onepiece metal clip that has a general C shape with decorative additionsand a point for hanging items such as Christmas stockings. When the clipis slid onto the edge of a mantel or shelf, the opening of the clip isexpanded creating a spring pressure to hold the clip on the edge of themantel or shelf.

The above cited prior art teaches a rather complex stocking holder andone that can be too easily pulled from the edge of a mantel or shelf.Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved device forsecuring decorative accessories and other items on the front, top edgeof a mantel, or hanging from the front edge of a mantel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing need in the prior art is satisfied by the presentinvention. A strong, but simple and inexpensive fastening device istaught which can safely hold decorative accessories hanging from thefront edge of fireplace mantels or shelves, and at the same time otherdecorative accessories on the top of the front edge of mantels andshelves. The decorative accessories cannot be inadvertently knocked offor pulled off the mantel or shelf and injure a person such as a child,damage a floor or furniture, and/or break the decorative accessories.Such decorative accessories include, but are not limited to, strings oflights, garland, Christmas stockings, strings of mistletoe, figurinesand other decorations.

The novel fastening device consists of three parts. There is a retainerthat attaches to either the rear of the mantle or to a wall behind themantle. There is a fastener that attaches to an item to be secured or ispart of the item. Finally, there is a tether in the form a string orwire that connects the retainer to the fastener. The retainer can takethe form of a thin strip of material that can easily be inserted intothe space between a mantel or shelf and the wall at the back edge of themantel or shelf. The fastener attaches to a figurine or other item ontop of the mantel or shelf, or to a stocking holder or other itemhanging in front of the hangar or shelf, when these items are to beprevented from falling from the mantel or shelf. The tether is a strongline, string or wire that is attached between the retainer and thefastener. The tether prevents a figurine or other item from falling offor being pulled from the front edge of the mantel, including anythingelse hanging there from or being attached thereto.

For applications where a weighted stocking holder is not weightedsufficiently, the tether should be used between the retainer and thefastener. This will allow for lighter weight, less expensive, figurinestocking holders. In the case of weighted stocking holders, the tetherneed not be taught, but short enough to prevent the item from gainingsignificant velocity should it be pulled from the shelf or mantel. Inthis case, a single retainer can accommodate several fasteners or items.

As mantels come in many widths a way is provide for adjusting the lengthof the tether so that the weighted stockholding or other item willalways remain in the proper position at the front edge of the mantel orshelf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood upon reading the followingDetailed Description in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention having a fastener with acandle holder and candle that sits on the front edge of a mantel and hasan integral hook that extends over the edge of the mantel for hanging aChristmas stocking, a light string, garland or other ornaments.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention that has a flatfastener that sits on the front edge of a mantel, and has an integralhook that extends over the edge of the mantel for hanging a Christmasstocking, a light string, garland or other ornaments;

FIG. 3 shows a view of a portion of a fastener and retainer and atether;

FIG. 4 shows a view of a portion of the fastener and retainer and howthe tether connects the two; and

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention that is used with a weightedstocking holder in the form of a figurine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject invention is a novel, simple and inexpensive, yet safefastening apparatus for securing decorative items, including Christmasstocking holders, to the front edge of a mantle or shelf, and/orretaining other decorative items on top of the mantel or shelf.

FIG. 1 shows the invention used on a fireplace mantel 10 and FIG. 2shows the invention used on a shelf 20. FIG. 5 shows the invention usedon a fireplace mantel with a weighted stocking holder that has a ceramicor metallic figurine. The version of the novel apparatus shown in FIG. 1has a hangar 13 with an integral candle holder 16. In addition, oneversion of a retainer 12 of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and avariant retainer 22 is shown in FIG. 2. They perform the same functionand may be interchanged. In addition, one hangar 13 is shown in FIG. 1and a variant hangar 23 is shown in FIG. 2. They perform the samefunction and may be interchanged. The hangar 13 shown in FIG. 1, withintegral candle holder 16, may be used on a shelf 20 with retainer 22;and hangar 23 shown in FIG. 2 may be used with mantel 10 in FIG. 1. Onlytwo figures are shown for the sake of simplicity.

FIG. 1 shows a brick fireplace 11 with a mantel 10 thereon on which theinvention is used to hang a stocking 19 at Christmas time. Thisembodiment of the invention has a hangar 13 that may be made of metal orplastic and sits on the top front edge of mantel 10. Hangar 13 has a Jhook 14 extending down over the front edge of mantel 10 on whichstocking 19 is hung with a loop of material 19 a often made as part thestocking.

The invention also has a retainer 22 that wedges in between mantel 10and wall 29 into which the brick fireplace 11 is built. In FIG. 1retainer 12 is a relatively thin, flat piece of material that can bepushed between wall 29 and the back edge of mantel 10 as shown. Retainer12 includes a ring 12 a attached thereto upon which force can be appliedto push retainer 12 between wall 29 and mantel 10. A tether in the formof a string, wire or plastic line 18 (hereinafter referred to as tether18) can preferably be tied to ring 12 a before retainer 12 is insertedbetween the wall and mantel, but it can be tied afterwards.Alternatively, instead of using retainer 12 a screw hook or eyelet screw(not shown) may be screwed into the wall at or near the point whereretainer 12 would be inserted between wall 29 and mantel 10. Tether 18is tied to the screw hook or eyelet screw instead of to ring 12 a.

Hangar 13 has a small tab 15 at its rear edge that angles up and awayfrom the top surface of mantel 10. Tab 15 has a hole there through (notshown in FIG. 1 but shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). Hangar 13, without stocking19 and candle 17 is set on the top front edge of mantel 10 as shown andtether 18 is passed through the hole in tab 15 and is tied thereto.Tether 18 is strong enough to prevent hangar 13 from being pulled fromthe mantel 10 when a fair amount of pulling force is applied to hangar13 or anything hung thereon, such as stocking 19. Stocking 19 is hungfrom J hook 14 of hangar 13 using loop 19 a as shown. A candle 17 isthen inserted into candle holder 16. Candle 17 can be a real candle ormay be one of the newer battery powered candles that are common. If acandle 17 is not desired a figurine or other decoration may be placed ontop of and may be fastened to candle holder 16.

A number of hangars 13 (not shown), as described in the previousparagraph, may be spaced along the front edge of mantel 10 and garlandor a string of lights may be strung along the top of the J hook 14 ofeach hangar 13. In addition, while a stocking 19 is shown hung fromhangar 13, anything else may be hung there from within its weightlimitations.

As briefly mentioned above, the retainer 22 of FIG. 2 may be used inlieu of retainer 12 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a wall 29 with a shelf 20 fastened thereto, and havingvertical support from element 21. The invention is used with shelf 20 tohang a stocking 28 or other decorative ornament thereon. This embodimentof the invention has a hangar 23 that may be made of metal or plasticand sits on the top front edge of shelf 20 as shown. Hangar 23 has a Jhook 24 extending down over the front edge of shelf 20 on which astocking 28 is hung with a loop of material 28 a often made as part thestocking.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a part of the invention. Retainer 22is a relatively thin, L shaped piece of metal that can be pushed betweenwall 29 and the back edge of shelf 20 as shown. Instead of a ring as inFIG. 1, retainer 22 has a tab 22 a that angles up and away from the topof shelf 20 and has a hole there through (not shown in this Figure butshown in FIGS. 3 and 4). For ease of installation a piece of string,wire or plastic line 26 (hereinafter referred to as tether 26) canpreferably be tied through the hole in tab 22 a before clip 22 isinserted between the wall and mantel, but it can be tied theretoafterwards. Hangar 23 has a small tab 25 at its rear edge that angles upand away from the top of mantel 20. Tab 25 also has a hole there through(not shown in FIG. 2 but shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). Hangar 23, withoutstocking 28 hanging there from, is set on the top front edge of mantel20 as shown and tether 18 is passed through the hole in tab 25 and istied thereto. Tether 18 is strong enough to prevent hangar 23 from beingpulled from mantel 10 when a fair amount of pulling force is applied tohangar 23 or anything hung thereon, such as stocking 28. Stocking 28 isthen hung from J hook 24 of hangar 23 using loop 28 a as shown.

In the following paragraphs an alternative way of attaching a hangar toa retainer is described. With this alternative no tying of a tether isrequired. While the following description is with reference to tab 25 ofhangar 23 in FIG. 2, it also applies to retainer 22 with its tab 22 a inFIG. 2, and to hangar 13 with its tab 15 in FIG. 1. With thisalternative way of attaching a hangar to a retainer, the retainer 12 inFIG. 1 is not utilized because a ring 12 a is not needed. Only aretainer such as retainer 22 is needed because it has a tab 22 a with akeyhole shaped hole 30 through it.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative way of attaching hangar 23 to retainer 22 inFIG. 2. Shown is a partial view of hangar 23 without J hook 24. Tab 25of hangar 23 has a hole 30 through it as previously described withreference to FIG. 2. Hole 30 is keyhole shaped and has an elongated slot30 a and a larger diameter portion 30 b. Instead of using string or wireas shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tether 26 isa strong plastic line 26 having molded, spaced beads 26 a along it. Withthis tether 26 there is no manual tying to be done to assemble and usethe novel holding apparatus. The diameter of beads 18 a is only slightlyless than the diameter of portion 30 b of the hole 30 and the diameterof line 26 between beads 26 a is only slightly less than the diameter ofelongated slot 30 a.

FIG. 4 shows the alternative tether 26 attached to tab 25 of hangar 23.Tether 26 and some number of its beads 26 a are first inserted throughthe larger diameter portion 30 b of hole 30. This can be done because ofthe relative dimensions as described in the previous paragraph. Afterbeaded tether 26 is inserted through hole portion 30 b a sufficientamount it is moved upward into elongated slot 30 a. Since beads 26 ahave a diameter larger than the width of slot 30 a beaded tether 26cannot be pulled back through tab 25.

When using the beaded tether 26 as part of the invention, retainer 22 isfirst inserted between wall 29 and the rear edge of shelf 20 or a mantel10. Tab 22 a has a keyhole shaped hole 30 through it, alike that shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, through which at least the first bead 26 a on a firstend of tether 26 is inserted through portion 30 b and is then slid upinto the elongated slot 30 a in tab 22 a. With hangar 23 positioned onthe top front edge of shelf 20 or mantel 10 the other (second) end ofbeaded line 26 is inserted through portion 30 b of keyhole shaped hole30 through hangar 23 until there is no slack in beaded tether 26. Tether26 is then slid up into the elongated slot 30 a of tab 25. With no slackin beaded tether 26 hangar 23 cannot fall off mantel 10 or shelf 20. Anyexcess length of beaded line 26 after it passes through hole 30 in tab25 of hangar 23 may be cut off.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the inventionis used with an existing weighted stocking holder 13 that has a ceramicor metallic figurine 33. Such a weighted stocking holder 13 has a J hook14 that has a stocking 19 hung there from as previously described withreference to FIG. 1. If a child pulls on such a weighted stocking holder13, without the use of the invention, the holder would fall andobviously do damage to the face of the child.

In this embodiment of the invention there would be no hangar with J hookbecause it is already part of the prior art weighted stocking holder 33.Instead the hangar 13 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a flat metallic orplastic base plate 34 that is adhesively fastened to the bottom of theweighted stocking holder 13. Base 34 has a tab 15 with a hole therethrough, as described with reference to FIG. 1, to which tether 18 istied or attached. Base 34 may also be manufactured as an integral partof the weighted stocking holder 33.

As previously described with reference to FIG. 1 there is a retainer 12that wedges in between mantel 10 and the wall 29 into which the brickfireplace 11 is built. Retainer 12 includes a ring 12 a attached theretoupon which force can be applied to push retainer 12 between wall 29 andmantel 10. Tether 18 is tied to ring 12 a before retainer 12 is insertedbetween the wall and mantel, but it can be tied afterwards.Alternatively, instead of using retainer 12, retainer 22 or a screw hookor eyelet screw (not shown) may be screwed into the wall at or near thepoint where retainer 12 would be inserted between wall 29 and mantel 10.Tether 18 is tied to the screw hook or eyelet screw instead of to ring12 a. Base 34 has a small tab 15 at its rear edge that angles up andaway from the top of mantel 10. Tab 15 has a hole there through aspreviously described with reference to FIG. 1 to which tether 18 istied. Tether 18 is strong enough to prevent figurine 33 and stocking 19from being pulled from mantel 10 when a fair amount of pulling force isapplied thereto. Instead of tether 18 the alternative tether means shownin and described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 may also be used.

This embodiment of the invention may alternatively also be used forretaining only a figurine 33 or other decorative item sitting near thefront edge of a shelf or mantel 10. The J hook 14 does not exist in thisapplication. Figurine 33 preferably has made as part thereof base 34that has a tab 15 to which tether 18 is tied or otherwise attached.However, base 10 may be adhesively attached to the bottom of separatefigurine 33 by a purchaser of the invention. The retainer 12 is aspreviously described, and the alternative retaining means shown in anddescribed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used instead. Thefigurine 33 with base 34 attached thereto is secured using tether 18 andretainer 12 or alternative screw hook or eyelet screw as previouslydescribed.

While what has been described herein is the preferred embodiment of theinvention it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. For example, when the invention is used on a shelf 20,retainer 22 a can alternatively be a U shaped piece of material that isinserted onto the back edge of the shelf with one portion underneath theshelf, a second portion at the rear of the shelf, and a third portion ontop of the shelf. Tether 26 is attached to the first portion thatextends on top of the shelf. This alternative embodiment is practicalbecause shelving material is generally of a common thickness.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. Apparatus for holding items on and/or hanging itemsfrom shelves or mantels that are adjacent to a wall, with the shelf ormantel having a top, a front edge furthest from the wall and a rear edgenearest the wall, so that an item is not easily knocked off the shelf ormantel to the floor, the apparatus comprising: a first element forholding an item and being positioned on top of a shelf or mantel nearits front edge; a second element adapted to be held against the wall;and means for connecting the first and second elements so that any forceapplied to an item will not cause the item and the first element towhich it attached to fall from the shelf or mantel to the floor.
 21. Theholding apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein there is a spacebetween the wall and the shell or mantle and the second elementcomprises a thin strip that is inserted into the space between the walland shelf or mantle and the thin strip is for holding the connectingmeans.
 22. The holding apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein thesecond element is attached directly to the wall next to the rear edge ofthe shelf or mantle.
 23. Apparatus for holding items on and/or hangingitems from shelves or mantels of different widths that are adjacent to awall, with the shelf or mantel having a top, a front edge furthest fromthe wall and a rear edge nearest the wall, so that an item is not easilyknocked off the shelf or mantel to the floor, the apparatus comprising:a first element for holding an item and being positioned on top of ashelf or mantel near its front edge; a second element adapted to be heldagainst the wall; and means for connecting the first and second elementsto span shelves or mantels of different widths between their front edgeand their real edge so that any force applied to an item will not causethe item and the first element to which it is attached to fall from theshelf or mantel to the floor.
 24. The holding apparatus in accordancewith claim 23 wherein the length of the connecting means is adjustableand its length is set to just reach from the second element to the firstelement to both of which it is connected so that if a force is appliedto an item and the first element to which it attached the last mentioneditem and first element will not fall off the shelf or mantel.
 25. Theholding apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein there is a spacebetween the wall and the shelf or mantle and the second elementcomprises a strip that is inserted into the space between the wall andshelf or mantle and the connecting means is connected thereto.
 26. Theholding apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein the second elementis attached directly to the wall next to the rear edge of the shelf ormantle.
 27. The holding apparatus in accordance with claim 23 whereinthe length of the connecting means exceeds the width of a shell ormantel and if a force is applied to an item and the first element towhich it is attached the last mentioned item and first element to whichit is attached may fall off the shelf or mantel but will not hit thefloor.
 28. The holding apparatus in accordance with claim 27 whereinthere is a space between the wall and the shelf or mantle and the secondelement comprises a strip that is inserted into the space between thewall and shelf or mantle and the connecting means is connected thereto.29. The holding apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein the secondelement is attached directly to the wall next to the rear edge of theshelf or mantle.